"The war is not meant to be won, it is meant to be continuous. Hierarchical society is only possible on the basis of poverty and ignorance. This new version is the past and no different past can ever have existed. In principle the war effort is always planned to keep society on the brink of starvation. The war is waged by the ruling group against its own subjects and its object is not the victory over either Eurasia or East Asia, but to keep the very structure of society intact." George Orwell

Of late, there has been much said and written about democracy – our right to choose our governments – and our right to freedom of speech.

We regard these rights as sacred, but sadly, sometimes we take them for granted.

While we are a relatively small country, we a nonetheless a country built on great traditions and values.

These values have ensured that despite our relative size and isolation, or perhaps because of it, we often lead the world in the progress of democracy.

Just four years ago our parliament celebrated its 150th anniversary – one of the few democracies that can make such a claim.

Indeed, our first parliamentary elections were held in 1853 only 13 years after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.

This is because New Zealand’s settlers resented the fact that they had no control over their own affairs and soon demanded self-government.

At first, not everyone had the right to vote. But over the next half century New Zealand was to become one of the most democratic nations in the world.

It is worth reviewing just what a proud tradition our democracy is built on.

In 1867 Parliament established four Maori seats in which all Maori men over 21 could vote for their own representatives.

Then in 1879, after much debate, the franchise was extended to all adult European men, regardless of whether they owned or rented property.

In 1889 plural voting was abolished, which confirmed the principle of ‘one man, one vote’.

In 1893 New Zealand led the world in the struggle for women’s rights ensuring the right to vote for all adult women.

By that time it was widely accepted that the franchise was a right of citizenship, and that all adult citizens should be able to take part in elections with few exceptions such as if you were in jail or adjudged insane.

It is interesting to note that opposition to electoral reform has always come from a small clique of wealthy elitists, who have always believed that money should be the perquisite to power.

Now the critical point here is that not all those who are wealthy hold such views – but there has always been a residual clique who have sought to restore the class system of a previous era.

So it was when New Zealand embarked on its latest electoral reform – the move to Mixed Member Proportional representation – MMP.

Not a good product photo I know but a quick one of the first order I ever received for a badge plus the supplementary Not in my name badge. I changed the text on the Kereru (New Zealand pigeon/dove) badge to War not in my name so there can be no misunderstandings. We don't want this war! [...]

New! Flyers

I have added several
A5 flyers with regards
to the financial
crisis and John Key's
connection to the
International and
privately owned
banking cartel.
Feel free to print
them and share
with your
John Key voting
friends.